From the lawnmower to the limbo, backflips, boom boxes and a Bairstow moment, Try July proved a massive hit with players and fans while also raising $400,000 for two special members of the rugby league family.
For every try celebration in July – featuring four rounds of NRL, two rounds of NRLW and the third State of Origin fixture – Sportsbet donated $5,000 to the recovery efforts of Nathan Stapleton and Daniel Anderson.
A former Sharks fullback, Stapleton lost feeling below the neck after a country rugby match in regional NSW last year while Anderson was involved in a body surfing accident on the NSW Central Coast which has also left him with a long road to recovery.
Since its inception in 2020, Try July has raised a grand total of $1,025,000 for causes including the Family of League Foundation, Mose Masoe and the Red Cross (Tonga Recovery & NSW/QLD Floods Appeals).
“Try July has been a huge success and illustrates the positive outcomes for our fans and charitable partners that can be achieved by the Players, NRL and NRL Partners working in collaboration," said Jaymes Boland-Rudder, the NRL's Executive General Manager - Partnerships.
"Seeing the involvement and creativity of the NRLW players' try celebrations this year was a great highlight.
"Raising $400,000 to support Daniel Anderson and Nathan Stapleton is testament to Sportsbet’s generosity and for that the NRL and rugby league family more broadly is very grateful.”
Don't leave your crease Elliott!
Sportsbet's Sean Ormerod said this year's Try July was "undoubtedly the best on record".
We saw some amazing try celebrations across both the NRL and NRLW," said Ormerod.
"The effort from the Raiders players in re-enacting the dismissal of Jonny Bairstow was definitely the highlight for us and even managed to get a whinge out of Piers Morgan.
The best of Try July - Round 22
"Sportsbet are so thankful for the support of all the players, the RLPA and clubs for getting behind the initiative and raising much needed funds for two champion people in Nathan Stapleton and Daniel Anderson."
Former Eels, Warriors and St Helens coach Anderson watched on throughout July and was delighted with the effort players put into the celebrations.
"I’d like to thank Sportsbet and everyone involved with Try July – in particular the women and men who put on a show for us all," Anderson said.
"Hope you all had fun – you certainly looked like you did – so well done again and a huge thank you from me and my family."